संग्रह 21-30

अशआर

1. दुर्लभ मानुष जन्म है , देह न बारम्बार। तरुवर ज्यों पत्ती झड़े , बहुरि न लागे डार॥

   अर्थ: A human birth is precious, it does not come again. Just as a leaf falls from a tree, it does not attach itself repeatedly.

2. आय हैं सो जाएँगे , राजा रंक फकीर। एक सिंहासन चढ़ि चले , एक बँधे जात जंजीर॥

   अर्थ: Those who come will fall asleep, be they king, pauper, or fakir. One shall ascend a throne, and one shall be bound with chains.

3. काल करे सो आज कर , आज करे सो अब। पल में प्रलय होएगी , बहुरि करेगा कब॥

   अर्थ: What you plan to do tomorrow, do it today; what you plan to do today, do it now. For in a moment, there may come a great deluge; then when will you do it?

4. माँगन मरण समान है , मति माँगो कोई भीख। माँगन से तो मरना भला , यह सतगुरु की सीख॥

   अर्थ: It is better to die than to ask for alms, O mind. For death is better than begging from the true Guru; this is the teaching of the True Guru.

5. जहाँ आपा तहाँ आपदां , जहाँ संशय तहाँ रोग। कह कबीर यह क्यों मिटे , चारों धीरज रोग॥

   अर्थ: Where there is delusion, there is disaster; where there is doubt, there is disease. Kabir says, why should these four afflictions vanish: the four diseases of patience (or, the four forms of suffering)?